 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||
| TTBS > FAQ > Lab Accreditation | |
||||||||||||
FAQ - Lab Accreditation LABORATORY ACCREDITATION ACCREDITATION vs. CERTIFICATION The ISO 9001 standard is widely used in manufacturing and service organizations to evaluate their system for managing the quality of their product or service. Whilst labs may be certified to ISO 9001, such certification does not make any statement about the technical competence of a lab and does not contain technical requirements for lab personnel and operations. WHAT SHOULD YOU CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A LABORATORY?
WHY IS A LABORATORY’S TECHNICAL COMPETENCE CRITICAL TO A MANUFACTURER, SUPPLIER, EXPORTER OR CUSTOMER?
CAN YOU BE SURE THAT A LABORATORY IS TECHNICALLY COMPETENT? HOW DOES USING AN ACCREDITED LABORATORY BENEFIT GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORS?
Such organisations must have confidence in the data generated by laboratories in order to make these decisions. Using an accredited laboratory can help establish and assure this confidence. If a laboratory is accredited by a reputable accrediting body the result is assurance that the laboratory is capable of producing data that are accurate, traceable and reproducible – critical components in governmental decision-making. Using an accredited laboratory benefits government and regulators by:
Using accredited laboratories also facilitates trade and economic growth. The accrediting process relies on a uniform approach to determining laboratory competence – an approach that has been accepted and implemented across many borders. Because of internationally accepted testing and measurement practices, data generated by an accredited laboratory may lead to the more ready acceptance of exported goods in overseas markets. Recognition of Testing Competence To maintain this recognition, laboratories are re-evaluated periodically by the accreditation body to ensure their continued compliance with requirements, and to check that their standard of operation is being maintained. Accredited laboratories usually issue test or calibration reports bearing the accreditation body’s logo or endorsement, as an indication of their accreditation. Clients are encouraged to check with the laboratory as to what specific tests or measurements they are accredited for, and for what ranges or uncertainties. This information is usually specified in the laboratory’s scope of accreditation. The description in the scope of accreditation also has advantages for the customers of laboratories in enabling them to find the appropriate laboratory. A Benchmark for Performance A regular assessment by an accreditation body checks all aspects of a facility’s operations related to consistently producing accurate and dependable data. Areas for improvement are identified and discussed and a detailed report provided at the end of each visit. Follow-up action is monitored by the accreditation body so the facility is confident that it has taken the appropriate corrective action. A Marketing Advantage Laboratory accreditation is highly regarded both nationally and internationally as a reliable indicator of technical competence. Many industries, such as the construction materials industry, routinely specify laboratory accreditation for suppliers of testing services. Accreditation bodies publish a directory of their accredited laboratories, which includes the laboratories’ contract details plus information on their testing capabilities. This is another means of promoting a laboratory’s accredited services to potential clients. Finally, through a system of international agreements accredited laboratories receive a form of international recognition, which allows their data to be more readily accepted in overseas markets. International Recognition for your Laboratory This uniform approach allows countries to establish agreements among themselves, based on mutual evaluation and acceptance of each other’s laboratory accreditation systems. Such international agreements, called mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs), are crucial in enabling test data to be accepted between these countries. In effect, each partner in such an MRA recognizes the other’s accredited laboratories as if they had undertaken the accreditation of the other partner’s laboratories. This developing system of international MRAs between accreditation bodies has enabled accredited laboratories to achieve a form of international recognition, and allowed data accompanying exported goods to be more readily accepted in overseas markets. This effectively reduces costs for both the manufacturer and the importers, as it reduces or eliminates the need for products to be retested in another country. WHAT TYPES OF LABORATORIES CAN SEEK ACCREDITATION?
HOW DO LABORATORIES BECOME ACCREDITED? The evaluation process can take one to several days, and involves the use of specialist technical assessors who evaluate the specific types of testing or measurement being performed. The assessment criteria are based on an international standard called ISO/IEC 17025, which is used for evaluating laboratories throughout the world. Accreditation bodies use this standard specifically to assess factors relevant to a laboratory’s ability to produce precise, accurate test and calibration data, including the:
At the end of the assessment a detailed report on the evaluation is presented to the laboratory, highlighting any areas that require attention and corrective action prior to the laboratory being recommended for accreditation. Once accredited, the laboratory is re-evaluated periodically to ensure its continued compliance with requirements, and to check that its standard of operation is being maintained. The laboratory may also be required to participate in relevant proficiency testing programs between reassessments, as a further demonstration of technical competence.
|
Copyright
© 2004, Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards, All Rights Reserved |